6.22.2010

OSKAR BARNACK: Revolutionized Photography

Oskar Barnack's Ur-Leica"The small format 35mm camera created a revolution in photography"

Hohenzollernbrücke, ColognePhotograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Eselstreppchen, 1914Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Flood, Langgasse, 1920Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

EisenmarktPhotograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Self Portrait, 1914 Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

"Oskar Barnack's genius idea of creating the small format 35mm camera created a revolution in photography"

Oskar Barnack wanted to move away from the traditional, heavy plate cameras then used for most photography. As early as 1905, he had the idea of reducing the negative format and enlarging the photographs at a later stage. Tenyears later Barnack developed the Ur-Leica, the first successful small-format camera. The photographs created in 1914 were of outstanding quality for the time. Delayed due to World War I the first LEICA did not enter series production until 1924 and introduced to the public in 1925.(more about the history of the Leica here).